Frustrated....having problems lining up/mating engine with trans
 

I'm having problems mating the engine to the transmission with the tranny that's already in the car. The transmission is jacked up as high as it will go and my engine is in short block form so there's nothing in the way. I get to the point where it's on the input shaft and it just stops and won't go on any farther.

Attachment 718359

This is what I'm dealing with and it's giving me a headache! I get to this point and it won't go on any farther. I'll take the engine off the input shaft and I can see where the grease got pushed up half way on the input shaft where it's stopping. I've jiggled/worked with it/man handled this sucker going on over a few days now. Any suggestions at all would be helpful.

Try rotating the eccentric shaft. Sometimes the clutch disk isn't lined up with the input shaft splines. It will also pay to use some bolts in the bell-housing to line up the input shaft with the pilot bearing.

or simply rotate the connection where the drive shaft should be and pop it in. Easy as 1-2-3 =].

-EZ

I might have to try the bolts in the bell housing trick. I have been rotating the flywheel to see if it will catch and every time I think it does I end up in the same situation as above. When I do "catch" on should it just slide right up together? Or will there be some gap?

I personally would NOT use the bolt in bell housing trick as it can do more damage than actually being helpful. Saw a new tech did that at a dealer and ended up with damage splines...

Have someone rotate the transmission (where the U-joint of the drive shaft insert is) while you push it in. It should pop in like butter. Works all the time and everytime.

-AzEKnightz

dont forget to put a gear in when doing AzEKnightz trick! ;)

There may still be a gap once the splines are lined up. On my car once I had my splines lined up and the two mated there was still a little gap. I just fixed this my drawing the last of the gap closed by tightening down the bolts. Of course this was simplified because I mated the two outside the car.

NEVER use the bolt in the bell housing trick. I've seen a new $5000 ZF trans crack right at the top of the bell housing that way. I've also seen damaged splines and cracked front pumps. Its far too risky and rarely works. The best way is the AzEKnightz trick. Also check if something is in the way of the e shaft or if the pilot bearing or flywheel is installed correctly.

Thanks for all the tips guys. Took the family out to the movies to get away for a while and come back with the right attitude. I'm about to head back to the garage and try out AzEKnightz trick. Hopefully I come back with an engine installed.

Lets do it! =]

-AzEKnightz

After fighting with it for the past few hours it's finally in! Thanks for all the tips guys. Hopefully I'll be up and running in a few days!

I don't mean to bring back an old post but what was the final trick that worked I'm having the exact same issue myself.

Read my Clutch Jobs Tips and Tricks thread first off.

The issue here most likely is a clutch disc that isn't properly centered in the pressure plate. Cut about a 1/2" off the end of the clutch alignment tool, it makes it MUCH easier to get the clutch dead center. Since I've been doing that I've had a LOT less issues getting motors and transmissions to like each other.

If it's off by even a HAIR it will not want to mate together. That disc has to be PERFECTLY dead center.

Also, the engine and trans have to be lined straight up, if they're off by 10 degrees or so it won't go together.

Dale

OK awesome tips I shall be back at it when I get off of work at 11.

Ha, this was almost 2 years ago when I did this. I'm pretty sure when I was having trouble with this I didn't have everything lined up perfectly straight. Take your time and make sure the trans and the engine are lined up properly. If you get frustrated step away from everything and move on to something else. You're more likely to screw something up or make a hasty decision when you're all pissed off and hot headed.

Yea when I tried it this morning I was trying to get it on before work and was running low on time I will def. Take everyone's advice and get back at it when I get home